THINK
BIG PALAU
Our Team
Lee Boo R. Gibbons (@leeboogibbons) was born in Koror, Palau in 1976 to Yutaka M. Gibbons and Dona (Riley) Gibbons. In 1980, he moved with his mother and younger sister to the Kansas City, Missouri area. Lee earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Administration, with a minor in Asian History, from Regis University in 1998.
After college, Lee took on a management position with his father's company in Palau. He also met his wife May in Palau where they got married in 2001. They moved to back to the US to further their education and now have two sons.
Upon returning to the US, Lee worked in sales and marketing at the Sprint Corporation, then transitioned into mortgage banking, and later did marketing, lead-generation and recruitment for US colleges and universities at a marketing firm in Kansas City. Lee then moved with his family to southern California to attend an aquarium and aquaculture science program.
Since then he’s expanded his professional experience by serving as the President at Gibbons Enterprises Corporation, working for US companies such as Ricoh Corporation, and later Toshiba, helping organizations manage data, business work-flows, and improve communications through various business technologies.
Lee is currently a commercial loan officer with a bank in Palau. He believes it is important for Palau to achieve economic self-sufficiency through innovation and diversification of its economy. He is a proponent of green renewable technologies as a key component to Palau’s development and is now developing a framework to sustainably grow aquaculture production in Palau that will improve protection and management for Palau’s delicate marine environment(s).
Joleen Ngoriakl (@jngoriakl) is currently studying politics at Regis University in Denver, Colorado. She holds undergraduate degrees from Regis University in Politics (B.A.) and Peace and Justice Studies (B.A.), with a minor in Philosophy. Joleen is a One Young World Ambassador (2012), Regis University Board of Trustees Scholar, and has held a number of youth leadership positions both on campus and in Palau. She has experience in nonprofit, political campaign, and volunteering with the homeless. She’s passionate about foreign and comparative policy, political philosophy, issues of social justice especially sustainability and Climate Change.
In her spare time, if she’s not busy spending time with her fiance, Turk Koshiba, and their two year old son, Nata, or on Facebook engaging with the Palauan community, she reads classical literature, science fiction, contemporary nonfiction, world news, or listens to podcasts. She holds a deep interest in classical philosophers from Plato and Aristotle to Stoics and Epicureans. Her other hobbies include street photography, researching, and writing.
Joleen is the daughter of the late Adelbairekesoaol, Jones, and Amon Ngoriakl. She plans on completing an advance degree in international politics and becoming a scholar-practitioner in the field. She strongly believes that the World needs more diverse voices when it comes to solving its most pressing issues and Palauans are no exception.
Check out Joleen's writer's blog on Medium where she writes about world and social justice issues from a Palauan woman's perspective. www.medium.com/@joleenngoriakl
Mia Kuartei (@MiaKuartei) is currently a full-time graduate student at the University of Alaska Southeast, pursuing a Masters of Education degree in Learning Design & Technology (Educational Technology). She earned her undergraduate degrees at Taylor University (Upland, Indiana) in International Studies (BA) and Secondary Education - Social Studies (BS).
After teaching at Emmaus High School, Mia became a Social Studies Curriculum Specialist at the Ministry of Education. For the past 11 years, she has been teaching K-12 out-of-school-time programs in Literacy & Enrichment, Technology, Job Readiness, and College Planning and Career Exploration, for children and youth in Seattle and San Francisco. Mia’s other work experience is in providing Tech Support, Network Administration, and developing Technology Plans to support strategic planning in non-profit organizations.
Mia is the daughter of Billy & Teo (Subris) Kuartei and currently lives in Sitka, Alaska with her husband, Truman Skang. She is passionate about education, technology, environmental sustainability, and sports!